THE LUCKENBACH STEAMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1916, Page 5

THE LUCKENBACH STEAMERS.

IS IT A GERMAN USE? By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xipht. At the Hai<bor Board meeting to-night a letter was received from the Vacuum Oii Company in reference to the Board's recent discussion on the Luckenbach steamers, which lately visited Wellington, and enclosing a letter from its Melbourne agants stating'that this lino is on the ''white list," and had signed the British Admiralty's bunker agreement. The chairman (Mr, Daniell) remarked that the letters were more wordy than convincing. , Mr. R. A. Wright said, the, conviction was strong in New Zealand that the line halt German capital behind it. The' chapman: There's no question about it. Mr. Wright said that when questions regarding the Luckenbach line were raised in the House they caused considerable embarrassment, and this led ■him to believe that it was felt in high quarters in New Zealand that the line was German-owned. Mr. J. Cobbe did not see what grievance the Vacuum' Oil Company hail. If a man called himself Hermann von Bismarck he *oulH. not grumble if he be regarded as a German. Mr. R. Fletcher said that no one in Wellington w6uld act as agents for the line. One firm had acted in that capacity, but after communicating with London had decided to drop the agency. The Board took no action.